Pipe tongs



J. w. A. .ANDRAE PIPE TONGS Filed May 8, 1922 Patented Dec. 1, 1925.

UNHTED STATES JOHN w. A. ANDRAE, or POINT ARENA, CALIFORNIA.

PIPE TONGS.

Application filed May 8,

To aZZ to 710% it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN V. A. ANDRAE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Point Arena, in the county of Mendocino and State of California, have invented a new and useful Pipe Tongs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pipe tongs or wrenches, and the object thereof is to provide pipe tongs which are reversible to change the direction of the pull and which require no locking means.

Another object is to so construct such tongs that the shifting of a pin from one side to the other of the lever will operate to reverse the pull of the lever.

Another object is to so construct such tongs that the pull thereof may be reversed by simply releasing the lever, exerting a straight pull thereon and shifting said lever to reverse its action.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood, that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a plan view of a pipe tongs constructed in accordance with this invention, with the lever shown connected to exert a straight pull;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a detail section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing a slightly different form of the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of one of the connecting pins used.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, a flat bar-like handle or lever 1 is shown which is used in turning the pipe. This lever is equipped at one end in the corners thereof with apertures 2 and with two through apertures 2 spaced inwardly from those in the corners and in longitudinally alinement therewith, and which are designed for a purpose presently to be described.

The tongs jaws 3 and 4 are shaped to fit the pipe in connection with which the implement is to be used and to engage therewith 1922. Serial No. 559,379.

for substantially the entire circumference. These jaws 3 and 1 are constructed exactly alike except that one is made left and the other right and are pivotally connected at one end by a pintle 5 extending through complementary knuckles carried by the meeting end of said jaws. At the front end of each. jaw are two cars 6 and 7 spaced vertically apart and having centrally alined apertures for the passage of a pin 10 for connecting the jaw with the handle or lever 1, said pin passing through the apertures in the ears of the jaw and through one of the corner apertures 2 of the lever, said apertured lever end being inserted in the space between the ears of the jaws as is shown clearly in Fig. 3.

lilxtending radially from the outer face of each jaw near the front thereof, is an arm 8 which is apertured at its free end to receive a connecting bolt or pivot 9 which unites a link 11 with said arm, the links 1 and 13 being slotted longitudinally as shown at 1.1 for the passage of the bolt. The other end of the link 11 is pivoted by bolt 12 with one of the inwardly disposed apertures .2 in the lever 1.

The arm 8 carried by jaw A is similarly connected with lever 1 by a link 13 and when two pins are inserted through the apertures in the cars at the front or lever carrying end of the jaws and passed through the corner openings in the lever 1, the lever will be held in the position shown in Fig. 1., in alinement with the pin 5 but it is to be understood that one of the pins 10 is removed when the wrench is used, according to the direction in whlch the pull is to be made.

In operation, the aws 3 and A are opened by removing pin 5 and they are then placed around the pipe to be manipulated and the pin 5 replaced, one corner of lever 1 having been pivotally connected by one of the pins 10 with one pair of vertically spaced ears 6 and 7 The handle or lever 1 may be then moved in the direction it is desired to turn or. lift the pipe engaged by the tongs, the slots 11 enabling a grip to be had by the jaws on the pipe.

When it is desired to change the direction of pull of the tongs, the pins 10 are removed. and the lever shifted to one side to bring the apertured corner thereof in register with the apertured cars at the opposite side of the tongs. One of the pins 10 is then replaced and the tongs may be actuated fOr exerting a turning movement on the pipe engaged thereby. To reverse the position of the lever and the pull exerted, the pins are removed and the lever shifted to bring the opposite corner in engagement with the opposite apertured cars at the other side of the tongs and the pin to be used again inserted.

It will thus be seen that by simply removing the pins and shifting the lever, the lever may be reversed to change the direction of pull of the tongs.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1-. the structure is similar to that shown in the-other figures except that the lever 1, instead of being apertured at its corners as shown in the other figures is provided with laterally extending lugs 14. and which are designed to be engaged with undercut ears 16 carried by the ends of the jaws 3 and i. The links 11 and 13 which connect the lever 1 with thearms 8 are longitudinallyslotted at their outer ends at their points of connection with lever 1" as shown at 11" and 13 and are arranged in lapping relation with a .bolt or pin extending through the slots therein, and through the lever 1.

In the use of this form of tongs, when it is desired to reverse the lever, the lever is disengaged from the ears 16 and a straight pull is exerted thereon, and then the lever is swung to the other side and the opposed lug l5 engaged with the other ear 16 carried by the cooperating jaw which will reverse the direction of pull of the lever.

The form shown in Fig. l is designed to be connected with theapertured ears of the jaws 3 and .t in a manner similar to the connection of lever 1 with the ears 16' shown in Fig. 4 except instead of having a hook engagement the corners of the lever have a pivotal connection with the ends of the jaws.

From the above description, it will be obvious that the arms 8 carried by the jaws 3 and 4t are made sufficiently long to provide for short links 11 and 13 being employed to provide greater leverage for the lever. It

is of course understood that all of the parts will be constructed in proportion to adapt them to withstand the strain to which the tool will be subjected.

I claim 1. Pipe tongs comprising a pair of jaws to embrace a pipe, a pin pivotally connecting the jaws at one end, a lever having a link connection with said jaws at points spaced from the free ends thereof, and cooperating means carried by said lever and jaw ends adapted to interengage and to be shifted to change the direction of pull of the lever.

Pipe tongs comprising a pair of semicircular jaws to embrace a pipe, a pin pivotally connecting the jaws at one end, and a lever having a link connection with said aws at points spaced from the free ends thereof, said lever having means for connection with the tree ends of said jaws and being reversible without changing its link connection to change the direction of pull of the tongs.

A tool of the class described comprising semicircular jaws hingedly connected at one end and having aperture-d ears at their other ends, and arms extending radially from the perimeters of said jaws at points spaced from said ears, alever having means for engagement with said ears, and links having a slot and bolt connection with said arms and pivoted to said lever at points in advance of its inner end.

i. A tool of the class described co1npris ing semicircular jaws hingedly connected at one end and having apertured ears at their other ends, arms extending radially from said jaws at points spaced from said ears,

a lever having apertures registering with the apertures in said ears, pins for detachably connecting said ears with said lever, and links havinga slot and bolt connection with said arms and with said lever at points in advance of the inner end of said lever.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afliXed my signature.

JOHN \V. A. ANDRAE. 

